Welcome OFW Kabayan. This is your OFW guides and info (samo't sari) of anything that might can help you from time to time in different sources which I gathered in the internet and other resources. Hope you enjoyed reading, and learning some few things. Thanks you for visiting. Mabuhay ka KABAYAN...

”This is a FREE Pinoy TV(OFW) all Filipino channels. Please re-channel your receiver frequency to get this channel specially from the Middle East.”

Watch PATV, the only one free channel TV for OFW around the world. Be a member also with IMPOK Service Cooperative for OFW – You can visit them in their website at http://www.impokpatv.com/ and learn more about them

Monday, September 17, 2012

After
the story of a Filipina who was raped by a Saudi Arabian man and his son
circulated on social media sites, Philippine officials urged overseas Filipino
workers (OFWs) to be more prudent on what they post on Facebook, Twitter, and
other sites.

The Philippine Embassy
in Saudi Arabiaon
Monday urged "all Filipinos in the Kingdom and their families in the
Philippines to refrain from broadcasting through social media platforms or
other means sensitive information regarding ongoing cases as it may compromise
efforts by concerned authorities."

"The Embassy encourages all Filipinos to
instead contact the Embassy directly at atn@philembassy-riyadh.org for reports
on similar cases," it added.

Saudi cops are currentlyhunting downthe Saudi father and his son
who allegedly raped the Filipina.

The embassy said the "Filipina expressed
dismay for the widely-circulated reports regarding her case. She was saddened
by the loss of her privacy and that of her family in the Philippines."

Some
things people can do

Pandora's Project , a site dedicated for
survivors of rape and sexual abuse, said friends, parents, and partners of
survivors are considered as "secondary survivors."

"Knowing that
someone you care about has been hurt may leave you feeling overwhelmed.
Oftentimes both survivors and their supporters struggle with feeling helpless
in the aftermath, and it can take some time to learn how to respond," the
site said.

"For many
survivors, support is a crucial part of the healing process, and receiving
compassionate and validating responses from friends and family can make a real
difference," it added.

What
to say

For those who know
someone who has survived rape or sexual abuse, Pandora's Project suggested
saying reaffirming words such as:

I'm sorry that this
happened to you.

It was not your fault.

You survived. You
clearly did the right things.

Thank you for sharing
this with me.

If you want to talk, I'm
always here for you.

Is there something that
you would like me to do for you?

What
not to say

On the other hand, Pandora's Project said these are some of the things that
people should NEVER tell a survivor:

It was your fault that
you were raped (or abused).

You could have avoided
it.

It happened a long time
ago. Get over it!

You wanted it to happen.

It's not a big deal.

Other
suggestions

Ask if the person wants
to be hugged or touched. Some survivors crave for a hug but others cannot stand
being touched.

Comfort the survivor.
"Bring a cup of tea and a blanket. Play soft music. Make the environment
comfortable," Pandora's Project suggested.

Don't try to solve all
of the survivor's problems but help him or her avoid such situations in the
future.

Do not demand to know
all the details of the abuse or rape.

Advice
for rape victims

The website of the US
advocacy grouphopeforhealing.orgsaid rape victims should not be ashamed of what
they have experienced.

“Any shame that you feel
is shame that belongs to the attacker and not to you,” the site explained.

The site also offers
advice about the steps that rape victims can take:

(1) As soon as possible,
go to an area where you will be safe.

(2) Call for help.

(3) Go to a hospital to
check for injuries even if you do not intend to prosecute your abuser.
“Sometimes injuries aren't always immediately apparent,” the site said.

(4) “Do not change
your clothes(especially if you think you might file charges). Don't comb your
hair, shower, use the bathroom (if possible) or change anything about yourself,
until after you've had an examination by a doctor. Valuable evidence can be
destroyed even by something as simple as drinking water or going to the
bathroom,” it added.

(5) Be ready to
answer difficult questions if you report the crime to the police. “The
questions are designed to aid in the prosecution but can seem intrusive at the
same time,” it said.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Roshane Lopez shares the pain of not being with her children -- especially her Bunso -- as they are growing up. In her story, she hopes to make non-OFW parents realize that their children are luckier than hers in the sense that they have their whole family at home for Christmas.Malapit na naman ang Pasko. Hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na mangulila sa mga taong mahalaga sa akin na nasa 'Pinas. Hindi pa rin kumpleto ang buhay ko kahit na masasabi kong medyo naabot ko na ang karera na gusto ko.

Saudi Arabia, the top destination of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) started implementing Saudization or the Nitaqat system last June, a policy that aims to prioritize the hiring of Saudi citizens over foreign workers. However, after six months of implementation, labor officials in Saudi are saying that Saudization is so far a failure.

In fact 50% of private companies in Saudi are non-compliant with the scheme despite warnings that they would not be issued new work visas. This information appeared in an article in Emirates 24/7, a news site based in Dubai, UAE.

Saudi Arabia decided to impose the Saudization scheme in an effort to solve the country’s rising unemployment rate. The Labor Ministry of Saudi further informed that while more than six million foreigners are presently working in private companies in Saudi; over one million Saudi nationals are unemployed.

The Saudi labor minister, Adel Faqih said that Saudi has an unemployment rate of 10.5% by the end of 2010. Faqih added that expatriates comprises about 90% of the workforce of private firms in Saudi.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Pinoy Atin ‘to TV (PATV) is a first of its kind, 24-hour, All-Filipino channel that showcases entertainment shows, feature presentations and other relevant programming to uplift the welfare of our fellow Kabayans abroad through wholesome entertainment and effective information. PATV offer the widest range of programs designed to suit the Filipino’s tastes and preferences. This includes lifestyle shows, action and adventure flicks, comedy programs, showbiz and entertainment broadcasts, drama series and other news and information-based programs.

Pioneered and managed by Filipinos for Filipinos abroad. We maintain top quality Philippine programming at its finest using state-of-the-art broadcasting facilities to deliver world-class, region-based entertainment. This enables our well-thought concepts and programs to go on air with much clarity and brilliance. Hosted and delivered by PATV very own fresh and home-grown talents that breathes life, excitement and inspiration to all our programs.

Moreover, with the network's commitment to help and uplift our fellow Kabayans, FMI shares its privilege to all Filipinos to finally have a voice in the Middle East.PATV is a free channel TV in Arabian Gulf in a free receiver channel.If you don’t have this channel in your receiver, re-channel again or asksomeone who can re-channel or fix the frequency of your Reciever. To those OFW who are not in the vicinity ofSaudi Arabian, you can seethe PATV in the internet.Please click this link and your were be directed to the said tv program athttp://www.pinoyatintotv.com/ or click the logo/icon above.

This channel is under Filipino Media Inc. is a premiere network company in the Middle East providing FREE-TO-AIR channel service to entertain and help improve lives of our Filipino expatriates in the region.

These and a perfect mix of quality programming, PATV serves as an oasis for every Kabayan abroad that bring every Pinoy closer to home.

If you're not getting this channel in your receiver, please re-channel it again or ask someone who knows how to check/get/change the frequency. Also to those OFW who are are not working the area of Arabian Gulf, this TV channel can be also seen in the internet, just go to their own website : http://www.pinoyatintotv.com/. This is a free TV Channel at walang bayad.

IMPOK is an acronym for ITAGUYOD MO ang PANANAGUTAN AT OBLIGASYON sa KINABUKASAN. This is a newly registered Cooperative in the Philippines aimed, designed, formed and to be managed by OFWs in the Middle East(and soon globally) to help them be able to have livelihood and housing assistance after their work abroad expires.IMPOK Cooperative is a brainchild and will be actively headed by Ms. Mecky Decena of PATV and House of Feng Shui.

Having seen the problems faced by most OFW in the Middle East, she took it upon herself to start and organize a Cooperative that will be based on one common bond- that OFWs should have a good life and a bright future after their working contracts outside the Philipiines will be over. She believes in every OFW and she capitalizes on the strength of their dreams and their unity in building boss and run their own businesses. IMPOK Cooperative will be built on trust and a strong drive of the OFWs, all seeking to change their lives. With the strength of PATV, she believes that we can call the attention of the government, seek support and assistance from other organizations and with dedication and hard work & all the members will be able to build new lives with their families together back home. IMPOK Cooperative will use its power in numbers. As a collective whole, we now can all have our own houses, achieve better wealth generating vehicles, increase our savings from our salaries and ensure that we will never be broke again and penniless OFW when we get back home.

IMPOK OBJECTIVEWhen they go back to the Philippines to make sure that they were able to build their house and a source of livelihood to rely on.

2. To encourage and teach members to learn and adapt savings program to be able to have a house they own and also achieve increased income through savings and safe investments.Ma-enganyo, maituro at maibahagi sa mga miyembro ang mga pamamaraan kung papaano ang bawat miyembro ay magkaroon ng sariling bahay, pangkabuhayan sa oras ng pagbalik at mabigyan sila ng mga siguradong puwedeng mapaglagakan ng kanilang pinaghihirapan na pera.

3. To achieve financial independence for each individual member and the cooperative as a whole. Makamit ang "financial independence" ng bawat miyembro at ng buong kabuuang kooperatiba.

A fully registered Service Cooperative for OFWs initially for the Middle East but now for all Filipinos all over the world. It was created to help Filipino ex-pats to have their own business & homes when they return to Philippines and for their own future once the OFW kabayan will stay permanently in the Philippines.For more details please visit the above website and you will be fully understand what I said.

Mga OFW Kabayan, any opinion on this regards? If you have any comment kabayan, express yourself. Kanya-kanya nga lang. Dahil may mga negative at positive naman ang tao about this write ups...

(From Manila Bulletin, Dec. 3, 2011)MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino migrants’ rights group has thumbed down the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) plan to impose taxes on overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) contributions to the Social Security System (SSS) and to the Home Development Mutual Fund, popularly known as Pag-IBIG.

“We know that it is the BIR’s duty to raise and collect taxes but the government must be reasonable and fair (enough to) consider the present socio-economic plight of our people,” said John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator of Migrante-Middle East (M-ME).

The BIR earlier this week confirmed that it issued a circular to study the imposition of taxes to SSS and PAG-IBIG members who have contributed more than the amount allowed by law, as it is considered as an “investment”, and therefore should be taxed.

The BIR stressed that the proposal is still under study.

Monterona reckoned that imposing taxes on OFWs’ voluntary contributions to SSS and PAG-IBIG would “defeat the very intent, purpose and spirit” of the government’s programs on social security and housing loans.

He added that these contributions should not be classified as “million peso investments”, but rather investments that are only large enough to secure the OFWs and their families’ needs when retirement time comes.

The Saudi-based OFW leader likewise warned that many Filipino migrant workers would stop their contributions once the BIR begins to tax their SSS and PAG-IBIG contributions.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Today I was surfing in the internet while awaiting for my clients' (coming from Dubai)calls. I was keen to read the write ups. I was there in Riyadh for 8 months but I never roamed much the area. I still prepared here in Khobar. I seen some of filipinos sellings such stuffed in Batha. But I seen some filipinos as well selling different goods, specially along the street. I found out as well that in Batha, you can take a taxi driven by a filipinos ( I think it's Kulurum as we called it by filipinos). But they only do service for pinoys only. I don't like Riyadh actually and i heard about few things. Anyhow, this is only comments as i prepared to worked here in Al-Khobar area.

Anyhow, I read the short write ups and I'm sure, you will love to read it as well. I took it from weng's blogspot, so probably some of you read or encountered this story in the internet. To those who did not, well, I hope you enjoy reading it and learned something from it.. (see below).

Al Batha market is frequented by Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and the Filipinos thus, you can see grocery stores offering Filipino consumables from food to beauty products made in the Philippines. Thursday and Friday are the busiest days in Al Batha market, so expect crowds of Filipinos and other nationals during these days at the CFC side of Batha (which they call Philippine market) from restaurants, groceries, electronics, bazaars and banks.

A handful of Kababayans (male only) are selling roasted peanut in Al Batha market. Let’s meet one of our Kababayan and his success story after defeating life’s difficulties.

Born in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro is Emmanuel Rabulan, an OFW working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as a janitor at the Riyadh Military Hospital Bldg. 60 (Prince Sultan) since December 28, 2009. His marriage to Nemianita was blessed with 4 beautiful children namely April Rose, 15 yrs. old, Kobe John, 11 yrs. old, Julius Christian, 8 yrs. old and Paul Eman, 3 yrs. old.

Emmanuel’s duty at the Riyadh Military hospital as a janitor starts at 6 in the morning and wraps up at 2 in the afternoon. After his janitorial duties, he cooks roasted peanut and sells it at Batha market every afternoon from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m on weekdays and earlier during weekends (Thursdays and Fridays). The delicacy is sold at 5 riyals per 3 packs.

Before he tried his luck in the oil rich Saudi Arabia, he and his wife had a fruit stand in Fairview where they earn a minimum of 10,000.00 Pesos per day. From this business, the couple were able to acquire a mini van to help them out with their business. One day, an opportunity for Emmanuel to work in Italy came. Hoping for a better future, the couple sold their fruit store and mini van to pay the recruiter for the processing of his papers. Little did he know that all these greener pasture promise was a scam, he was duped by an illegal recruiter. All of the couple’s hard-earned money was gone with the wind. Emmanuel tried his luck again and this time in Qatar with a visit visa. He worked as a part-time utility man in a restaurant for 3 months receiving 10 Qatari Riyals per hour. If he gets lucky, he works up to 15 hours at the restaurant just to earn more. He went back to the Philippines after his visit visa expired.

Seeing his children in a difficult situation frustrates him a lot. He wanted to send them to school and give them a good life as any parent dreamt of for their children. Again, a persistent Emmanuel applied for abroad thru an agency and that’s how he set foot in Saudi Arabia. A salary of 700 Saudi Riyals per month or roughly 8,000 Pesos in Philippine money is not enough to support his family back home. Part of his contract is a free accommodation but he has to pay for his own food. With this meager salary, he found a way to augment his income by selling adobong mani or roasted peanut at Al Batha market.

At first, he kept his sideline job from his family until his brother who also worked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia saw him selling peanut to his Kababayan (fellow Filipinos) in the market. This is when his family back home knew that Emmanuel is working hard to earn extra income for his family’s future.

Emmanuel sells 200 packs equal to 300.00 SR a day on weekdays and 500 or more packs during weekends equal to 700.00 SR a day or more. Now, his sideline job is giving his family a comfortable life back home, way more than what his janitorial job is offering him. At the moment, Emmanuel is saving for a big surprise for his wife when he gets home next year, the proof of his sweat – bank account.

Emmanuel is a story of an OFWs struggle and success from being scammed by an illegal recruiter, properties lost but he picked up the pieces again, stood up, kept his faith and determination to find his way in this world full of competition just to give his family a bright future.

Being an OFW is not easy. One may get lucky, one may get the other way around. The struggles of Filipinos working abroad are the homesickness, the need to feel the love and support of their families back home and the desire to always hear the voices of their loved ones. Overseas Filipino Workers are determined, strong-willed, goal oriented individuals that is why, whatever challenges that comes along our way (that includes me), we always find ways to overcome the trials of life though at times, human as we are, we sometimes feel the world crashing around us but faith in God is what make us going.

Friday, October 14, 2011

San Francisco (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Tony Ranque worked for years in Saudi Arabia where he faced a dilemma other overseas Filipinos have probably encountered: The longer he worked abroad, the bigger his debt grew.

"Imagine the worst situation, when my credit cards, all five of them, were used up to their maximum credit limits," he told me.
Eventually, overwhelming financial burden combined with the strain of separation led to the collapse of his marriage.

Today, Tony is one of many Filipinos using their experiences to take on a pressing need: Helping other overseas Pinoys and their families become smarter with money and debt.
There's so much to explore on this subject. Readers have helped me do just that by sharing their own stories on their struggles with financial burdens - particularly with unbearable utang.

One U.S. reader tells of a Pinay whose relationships failed over disagreements over her desire to send US$700 a month to her family back home.

Another reader spoke of Filipinos who worked on cruise ships who told him how the amount they sent [to families] amounted to nothing later on." One of them turned to drinking to forget his anger and frustration, he said.

An OFW from Saudi also wrote me about how she moved to the Middle East in order to pay off her debts, but the process has taken longer than she expected. She's struggling to explain to her family ,why I'm not sending much," she said.

But she's also gearing up "toward the positive side," she added, "after having the strength to say NO to some requests."

By the "positive side," she meant that state in which she's in control of her finances. It's an important state to be in as the world slips into another time of economic uncertainty.

Dr. Macky Galvez, a pediatrician based in Manila, spoke of his own work with OFWs and their families, in a local cooperative. That experience brought home a key realization.

"OFWs should and must undergo financial literacy to protect and harness their money which is more often lost and squandered," he said.

Let's affirm a key premise here: Overseas Filipinos perform a vital role by sending money back home to help their families. But there's also a growing need for families to find better ways to manage funds coming from abroad.

And we're not talking about totally avoiding debt. In many cases, as I've noted, debt is necessary to meet a need.

But there's such a thing as smart debt and dumb debt. Worse, there is unbearable utang - debt that becomes so overwhelming that overseas Filipinos end up wearing themselves out as they find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle.

Charito Basa, an OFW advocate based in Europe, listed four general principles for overseas Filipinos and their families (which actually applies to everyone in this time of crisis)
:
Have a budget and stick it to it no matter what
"There'll be special requests from family and friends that will tempt migrants to deviate from their budget," she says. "Be firm. People will eventually understand that they are doing it for the good of everyone."
Save first, before spending (not the other way around)

Set aside a fixed amount for savings. Charito recommends at least 10 percent of one's income. She and Tony Ranque point to the tested formula for sound personal finance management: Income minus Savings equals Expenses.

"Saving a portion of your income is a must, not an option," Tony says. "If you cannot develop the habit of savings which is founded on discipline, force yourself to save by getting pension plans and other types of pre-need plans."

Have insurance (health, education, retirement, pensions)
"When done through reputable companies, insurance plans can guarantee that needs are attended professionally and that funds are available when most needed," says Charito.
Stay away from , get-rich-quick, schemes

This rule also applies to everyone.
Imagine this: Someone's offering you some investment plan with eye-popping returns. Sounds tempting. But the smart approach is to ask very tough, detailed questions. Or simply walk away. Chances are it's either a wild scheme, or even a scam.

There are many groups offering financial literacy training to overseas Filipinos and their families.
Charito cites the work of Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiative which gives hands-on budgeting training. The group also conducts training sessions for overseas workers on such topics as "How to say NO," "When to say NO," and "Why the need to say NO."

For some Filipinos like Tony Ranque, getting out of the debt cycle meant making tough, even painful, decisions.

This happened when he turned 50 several years ago. Frustrated with the seemingly endless cycle of work and debt, he began setting a different course.
"I slowly paid all my debts until I was debt free." He then quit his job in Saudi Arabia, and started all over - back in the Philippines.

He invested his savings, including starting an e-learning center/Internet café in his hometown in Bohol.

Tony's story may be unique. Other Filipinos, especially those helping out families with serious needs, may have a harder time breaking out of the cycle. But his experience at least shows there's a way out for others.
Tony eventually became a regular speaker at financial literacy seminars geared to overseas Filipinos and their families. During one seminar, he told his audience about some of his former fellow workers in Saudi Arabia who, to his surprise, asked to be rehired in that country - even after they had reached retirement age.
"Sino kaya ang mas mapalad sa ngayon? Ako na nakauwi na, na ang buhay ay halos masasabing "isang kahig, isang tuka?' O iyong mga dati kong kasamahan sa Saudi na inabot na ng retirement age doon eh nagpa-rehire pa?" ("Who's luckier? I who was able to come home and now lives a simple life? Or my former colleagues in Saudi Arabia, who ended up working there until they retired, and now is asking to be re-hired?")

He makes less money now than when he was working abroad, Tony told me. But he¿s happier. ¿I believe I am now living a more fulfilling life than ever before."

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Editor’s note: The following Philippine Daily Inquirer article is one of the most shared articles on OFW sites and blogs. Written in Filipino, it has been tossed around so much that many sites don’t even know who wrote it anymore. Some have edited it and put in their own remarks. It goes by different titles like, “Iba pa rin sa Pinas,” “Ang OFW ay Tao Rin” or “Pagpupugay sa OFW,” among others. It often comes with an introduction, like the one posted on qatarliving.com that says, “Here’s something for those with spouses, siblings, children, or relatives who are OFWs and especially those who hope to work abroad one day. This may help you better understand what it means to be an OFW.”

This is a translation of the original piece, published with the permission of its author, Saudi Arabia-based Filipino, Frederick Montilla Arceo

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are not rich. We have this notion that when someone is an OFW or based abroad, he or she is loaded. Not true. An OFW might earn from P50K-P300K a month, depending on the location. Those in Saudi Arabia or the United States might earn in the high range. But to say that they’re “rich” is a fallacy (amen!).

Many Filipinos seek work abroad because their needs are great. They have so many mouths to feed. Often, 3/4 or half of their earnings go to paying school tuition fees for their children and keeping up with the family’s household expenses.

It’s hard being an OFW. You need to scrimp and save as much as you can. Yes, food can be good abroad but often you stick to paksiw or adobo or eggs in order to save money. Come the 15th or end of the month, the first thing you look up is the conversion rate of the peso to the dollar, rial, or euro.

It’s okay to make do with what little is left than let the family go hungry. Come leave time, you also have to have some money left because many relatives will be waiting at the airport or at home. You know how it is among Pinoys, word gets around that you are an OFW and it attracts a lot of kin.

If you don’t bring pasalubong (a traditional homecoming gift) they may feel slighted and say bad things about you. Well, not all. But I’m sure some OFWs here have had that experience. Abroad, OFWs are also looked at differently. Very many have experienced not getting their due or being discriminated against in workplaces. You just take it, keep going, cry it out alone, because you think how miserable your family would be if you packed up and went home.

Besides, you really can’t count on a job waiting for you back home. And prices of rice, milk, sardines, and apartment rentals are high. So you suffer on–even though you have to work with a lot of jerks (kahit maraming kupal sa trabaho), even though you are sick and have no one to take care of you, even though the food sucks and working conditions bad, even dangerous, and the job difficult. Then when you have remitted money home, everything seems okay again; you call, “hello! kumusta na kayo(how are you all doing)?”

OFWs are not unfeeling (Hindi bato ang OFW).
You are human–not money or cash machines. You get tired, lonely (yes, often); you get sick, hungry; you stop and think, too. You, too, need support, if not physically, at least emotionally or spiritually.

OFWs also grow old.
Those I have met and spoken to, many have receding hairlines or are balding. Most of them have signs and symptoms of hypertension, coronary artery disease, and arthritis. Yet, they continue to work thinking about the family they left behind. There are many abroad, after 20-30 years, that still have not put away a savings stash.

No matter how hard they work, they can’t seem to save enough. It’s painful when you know that the family you support back home still can’t make ends meet, that a child is a drug addict, a daughter, pregnant; and one’s spouse is in a relationship with someone else. It recalls that popular old song “Napakasakit Kuya Eddie.”

OFWs are heroes.
That’s true. I, for one, realized this only now, that OFWs really are heroes in so many ways. Not icons or household names like Nora Aunor or Flor Contemplacion but heroes in the truest sense of the word. They could surpass even Rizal or Bonifacio: They have braved more wars and conflicts in order to give their families a better life; they have battled more political intrigues just to keep their jobs in hostile environments; they have exhibited more patience than your usual congressman or senator in the Philippines–all because of the fear of losing that precious pay check.

OFWs are survivors.
Pinoys are survivors (Matindi ang Pinoy). They are more tenacious than rats or cockroaches which are said to be able to survive cataclysms. Yet for all their sacrifices, they have yet to see solutions or results.

OFWs are unlucky–unlike politicians.
They don’t sign autographs or give interviews to media (unless they were kidnapped); they stay on the sidelines. When they leave the country, they are sad and on the verge of tears. When they come home, the lucky ones are welcomed by relatives at the airport. But if they come home without money, relatives are hard to find.

If only OFWs had a voice in Congress like politicians who are financed by the Filipino people and don’t have to work under the hot sun, or get scalded by hot oil, or shouted at by foreign employers, or eat paksiw day in and day out to save money, or live in a compound with conditions less than favorable, and be forced to live with people with strange ways if only to be able to live. Politicians are lucky, really lucky.

OFWs are steadfast.
Stronger and more steadfast than soldiers or other groups you might know. They are masters of reverse psychology, negotiations, and counter-attacks. Will the OFWs last? Most likely because we still don’t know when change and progress will come to the Philippines. Will it come? Is there a chance?

Happiness is imagining yourself in the company of your loved ones every day, watching your children grow in a healthy and loving home. Happiness is eating sitaw, bagoong, lechon, inihaw na isda, taba ng talangka. Happiness is watching a Filipino movie, whether old reruns or new ones. There’s still nothing like knowing your neighbors.

There’s still no place like the Philippines, being with other Pinoys (well, except those with crab mentalities). There’s still nothing like being able to tell stories and know that others around you understand what you are saying. There’s really nothing like the sound of “mahal kita!”, “‘day, ginahigugma tika,” “Mingaw na ko nimo ba, kalagot!” “Inday, diin ka na subong haw? ganahan guid ko simo ba.” There’s really no place…like home.

Sige lang. Tiis lang. Saan ba’t darating din ang pag-asa. So be it. just suck it in and keep going Somehow, you hope, things will work out.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Contrary to common perception, not all overseas Filipino workers acquire financial stability after working abroad. Some come home even poorer than before.

One such OFW is Cristeta Bercasio, 45, of Lanas village in this town. After working for several years in Hongkong, Dubai and Jordan as domestic helper, she came home and ended up as “agturtor ti pagay,” or as a gleaner of leftover rice stalks in the fields.Worse, she was separated from her three children for six years whom she left in Sultan Kudarat where her parents and siblings migrated to in 1970s in search of a better life.According to records of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Bercasio, already living in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat and married with five children, went to Hongkong to work as a domestic helper in 1990-1992; to Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 1994-1996, and to Jordan from 2001-2003.As the sole breadwinner, she provided for all the needs of her family. When she finished her contract in Hongkong where she earned HK$2,800 a month, she bought farm lots worth P90,000 in Sultan Kudarat. But the insurgency problem in the province denied her access to her properties.

A year later, she left for Dubai where she earned US$150 a month which was just enough to support her family’s needs. She went back home again. In 2001, she went to Jordan but her earnings of $150 was not enough for her family so with no savings at all, she went home not to Sultan Kudarat but to her relatives here in 2003.Her relatives were surprised but welcomed her nonetheless and gave her work as a nanny. She contacted her husband Benito in Sultan Kudarat, telling him to come to Mangaldan. Benito and their two children Benjie, a high school graduate, and Pearl, a high school student, arrived two years later.Bercasio longed for her other three children – Aileen, who is already married, Airec, 21 and Lorejie, 18.But money was really scarce and she cannot provide for their fare. Bercasio’s relatives lent her P40,000 to construct a 25 square meter house in a relative’s lot – a house which could hardly accommodate the entire family.Bercasio has even lost her job as a nanny, from which she earned P1,500 a month, after she broke her hip.Thus she and her husband ended up as “Agturtor ti pagay,” – one of those whom the Bible mentioned as “afflicted ones and alien residents” for whom landowners must leave the gleaning of their harvest.But OWWA has come to Bercasio’s rescue. On January 12, OWWA regional officials came with a “bounty” which hopefully can turn the tide for Bercasio’s family.Maria Luisa Reyes, Ilocos Region OWWA director, handed to her P10,000 cash, P5,000 worth of grocery items, an Equitable ATM card with P10,000 deposit, A Globe Auto load pre paid SIM, a P50,000 insurance certificate from Sunlife and a Tuloy-Educational Assistance to her youngest daughter May Pearl.But the biggest gift that Bercasio received on that day was the presence of her two sons – Airec and Benjie – who were flown in by the OWWA from Suldan Kudarat as surprise gifts. The eldest, Aileen, who is married, was left behind.The two boys were supposed to be presented to their parents during the program, but when they heard their father’s voice, they could not contain their emotion and went out of the vehicle where they were held and run into the arms of their parents.“This is the most beautiful day of my life. Thank you very much,” Bercasio said between sobs. And the audience, too, cried with them.

Monday, October 10, 2011

(The article, entitled “Tatay“, was written by Mr. Luis I. Galicia under the pen name Estong Kawili III. It was published in Trinity University of Asia’s Literary Magazine “Aninag” 2001 issue. Mr. Galicia was the managing editor then of the student publication. He also uploaded the article in website, now defunct, in 2006. This was erroneously attributed to someone whose name appeared at the bottom of the article when it circulated through email. Apologies to Mr. Galicia. Thank you for allowing this great article to be shared with all Filipinos, especially our OFW brothers and sisters.)

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